Project Motivation: World war II

• The German invasion of Norway marked the beginning of a 5-year building boom.
• Huge investments in military infrastructure, industry and transportation.
• Described by British intelligence service in 1945 as “the most impressive building program since Roman times”.
• Historians highlight the long-lasting impact of these programs.

Unemployment disappeared:

Project Motivation: Huge drop in income inequality

This paper: How did demand shocks to local labor markets affect income inequality?

Who benefited from the war?

German building Projects

Building Projects: Coastal artillery

Building Projects: Industry

Building Projects: Airports

Look at local labor markets (20 km radius as example)